The Mysterious Poptropican

Chapter One: Stuart Thompson

Stuart, just a young boy, was walking downtown to his favorite place, the library, when he noticed a white owl swooping down to him with something in its talons.

“A barn owl, I assume,” he said to himself. He knew barn owls lived all over the world, but it was extremely rare to see one in the big city where he lived, not to mention how rare it was to see an owl during the light of day.

The barn owl landed right in front of him and dropped what it was holding. Then, just like that, it flew away. Stuart picked up the what the barn owl had dropped. It was a letter, an “SOS” letter at that, so he carefully read through it.

The letter read: “To whomever reads this: We have been captured. The last place we saw was Nabooti Island. Then the man who captured us put a cloth with some sort of chemical on it over our faces, which made us fall asleep instantly. If you have received this letter, talk to the people on the west side of Nabooti Island. If they saw a black van driving fast, ask them which way it was headed, and please send help.” To this, Stuart gulped. What could he do? He was just an eleven-year-old bookworm. The only choice he had was to get help.

Chapter Two: Here Comes Help

Along with getting help, Stuart still had to go to the library to check out the book he had reserved. Once he got to the library, he noticed his friend, Peppermint, as she liked to be called. Stuart rushed up to her.

“Hi, Stu!” Pepperment said.

Stuart hastily showed her the letter. She skimmed through it quickly.

“EGAWD!” she said at the top of her lungs. Everybody shushed her. “We gotta go help them!”

“Exactly! Can you help me get them?”

“Sure! But I’m guessing you have a book on hold. Why don’t ya go get it?” said Peppermint.

Peppermint pushed Stuart in the direction of the hold shelf.

“It’s okay!” said Stuart, “I know where to get them.”

“Okay, I’ll just wait here then,” said Peppermint.

Stuart got the book he had reserved plus another on Nabooti Island language. Then he went to the librarian.

The librarian bent over to him quickly and said, “I couldn’t help but listen to your conversation with your friend. And I received a letter just like that…from a dove right?”

Stuart shook his head no. “I got mine from a barn owl.”

“A barn owl, hmm? Well maybe they used just any type of bird to send out the letters. I know where to find the man who captured the people, but I just can’t go.”

“Why?” asked Stuart.

“I’m too old, and I was looking for a young adventurer to take my place. You and that girl seem to make a good team. Now, as I was saying, I know where they are.”

The librarian gave Stuart directions from Nabooti to the island where she said they were being held captive.

“Thanks!” said Stuart.

“Not so loud, kid! People are trying to read.”

“Right,” said Stuart returning to Peppermint with the books and the maps to the island.

“So, we know where we’re going now?” said Peppermint.

“Yep,” replied Stuart.

Chapter Three: An Old Friend

Finally, Stuart and Peppermint were ready to set off on their adventures. Stuart had the books, and Peppermint had all the equipment. But the hardest part was getting there. Stuart knew a pilot, but he hadn’t seen him for a year and a half. The pilot was a close friend of Stuart’s family, but he had moved farther north in the state. Stuart quickly decided that he should get in contact with him.

“Hey!” said Peppermint. “Finally decided where to go?”

“Yeah, we have to contact an old friend,” replied Stuart. Stuart went into the next building they saw. It was a barber shop. Stuart rushed in asking, “Can we use your phone?!”

“Fine, fine,” replied the barber.

Stuart picked up the phone book and looked for the pilot’s name, John Mack. Finally, he found the listing and quickly called the number.

“Hello? Who is this?” asked John.

Stuart quietly replied, “This is Stuart. Remember me?”

“Oh yeah! How are your parents?” asked John.

“They’re good. Listen, we need a plane over here now. Can you come? It’s an emergency!”

“Sure. I’d be happy to.”

“Thanks!” said Stuart.

Thirty minutes later, Stuart saw the small, yellow plane rushing at him. He quickly got out of the way as John landed right in the middle of the street.

“Come on!” yelled John.

Peppermint and Stuart quickly hopped into the back seat. And off they were to Nabooti Island.